The final result was a 30-member class that included 24 players signing Wednesday, with six others taking advantage of the first NCAA early signing period in December.

“We needed a lot of guys on defense. The sheer number of defensive recruits that we signed was huge,” Warren said. “We wanted to make sure we got better at all three levels of the defense because we lost 15 seniors on defense.”

Of the 30 athletes signing with SUU, 15 came on the defensive side of the ball, including five defensive linemen, four linebackers and six secondary players.

“We ended up getting some really, really good secondary players that we’re excited about. We got some great linebackers that we went after early that we were able to land today. At defensive line, we were able to add a lot of depth and we’re still looking for a couple of guys,” Warren said.

As for the offense?

“We wanted to hit a couple of home runs, and I think we did that with Draycen Hall, Lance Lawson, Tanner McLachlan and some of those offensive players that we signed. We didn’t need many, but the guys that we got were high quality,” Warren said.

Hall, a running back from Gilbert, Arizona, was the Arizona Gatorade Football Player of the Year in 2016 and rushed for 4,572 yards and 65 touchdowns in his high school career.

“He’s going to bring a high character, high effort, high motor,” said Warren, while adding Hall will first serve a two-year mission for the LDS Church. “He chose Cedar City because he sees a culture that he wants to be in, not only on the football team but as far as Cedar City goes as a whole. This is exactly what he was looking for.”

Warren believes the team’s recent success, with two Big Sky titles in three years, is paying dividends on the recruiting trail.

"As far as character goes, as far as talent goes, I think we’re right up there with some of the best we’ve ever had," the coach said.